7 Incredible Vacation Spots In West Virginia

West Virginia beckons travelers with a promising motto: "Almost Heaven." Also known as the Mountain State, it has long been celebrated as a holiday destination. The state itself spans parts of the American southeast, midwest, and mid-Atlantic. Maybe that geographical reach and the diversity that lies within it explains why West Virginia holds within its borders a wealth of vacation destinations where some choose to return frequently—or move there for good. From its days as an English colony and before splitting from Virginia in 1863, West Virginia has long welcomed vacationers of all kinds. These incredible getaways suggest why West Virginia stands among the best US states for a memorable time away.

Elkins

Elkins lies in the central part of the state. Once a railroad hub, the town drove the development of West Virginia as a whole. These days, evidence of that golden era abound: the town has stately residences that reflect its heyday. Elkins sits at the edge of the Monongahela National Forest, a beloved space to play and stay in the state's great outdoors. Nearby, the awesomely photogenic Seneca Rocks formation juts into the horizon and once hosted the trainings for the 10th Mountain Division of the US Army before deployment in World War II. For a safer taste of the area, head to the Big Timber Brewing Company, a beer maker that chose Elkins as its headquarters. Each October, the town holds the annual Mountain State Forest Festival, a celebration of the flora, fauna, and culture that make the place unique, featuring art, local food, and even a lumberjack competition.

Fairmont

Fairmont, gathering 18,200 souls along the banks of the Monongahela River, makes for another great West Virginia getaway. This north-central town hosts Fairmont State University, a small public college with 2,700 undergraduates. Foodies love Fairmont's abundance of the pepperoni roll, a West Virginia signature dish that derives from the state's Italian immigrant laborers that once brought the treat with them into the state's numerous coal mines.

Fairmont has an abundance of green spaces, with spots like Palatine Park, East Marion Park, and especially Pricketts Fort State Park, which offers visitors the chance to see a reconstructed colonial-era village. For a touch of country culture that you can tap your foot to, head east of town to the Sagebrush Roundup Country Music Hall, with live string bands and mountain music galore.

Harpers Ferry

At the point where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet, the tiny town of Harpers Ferry, where fewer than 300 inhabitants live, draws visitors of all ages and tastes. Thomas Jefferson, returning from his travels in Europe said the place was "worth a voyage across the Atlantic." Judging by its ever-amazing views, it is not hard to understand why.

The Appalachian Trail runs through town, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is headquartered right here. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park invites students of American history to come see where radical abolitionist John Brown attempted to seize munitions, start an insurrection, and end slavery for good. Train lines, including frequent service from Amtrak and the regional MARC system, mean Harpers Ferry can welcome visitors without a car.

Martinsburg

Martinsburg, far in the state's Eastern Panhandle that points toward Washington, DC, has some 18,900 residents. The town offres access to the Shenandoah Valley, which itself belongs within the larger Appalachian mountain range running along the US eastern states. Architecture enthusiasts should come to Martinsburg to take in Aspen Hall, a mansion from pre-Revolutionary times that has been a credit to Martinsburg's elegance since 1745. Among Martinsburg's fascinating characters, the lady spy Isabella "Belle" Boyd, once called the "Cleopatra of the Secession," lived and operated here in support of the South.

For a walk through local history and the outdoors, check out the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Parks. These areas pay tribute to the historic canal series that developed commerce from Ohio to the Chesapeake Bay.

Parkersburg

The western town of Parkersburg, with 29,200 souls, offers the visitor some of West Virginia's most esteemed residential architecture. The town's presence in the rail and commodities businesses brought prosperity to this small location tucked into a bend of the Ohio River. Later, an oil and gas bonanza enhanced Parkersburg's concentration of wealth.

These days, the town's historic affluence stands out proudly for the visitor to take in. Julia-Ann Square gathers fine residences, several in the Second Empire style; the square has been part of the US National Register of Historic Places since 1977. A separate residence, known simply as The Castle and built in 1855, invites tourists to learn more about the town's historic fortunes and families. The downtown Oil and Gas Museum completes the story of local riches.

Princeton

Unlike the New Jersey town with the Ivy League university, West Virginia's Princeton sits in the foothills of Mercer County, in the southern bulk of the state above the western boot of Virginia. Calling itself the "heart of Mercer County," and with 5,600 souls today, the town grew in light of the early 20th-century coal boom. Princeton likewise became a rail centre for shipping coal to industrial centres in the East and Midwest. The rail history of the town can be explored at the Princeton Railroad Museum.

In recent years, Princeton organizes the Mercer County Fair each summer, paying tribute to the place's history and agricultural industries. Trivia for sports enthusiasts: Princeton was also home to the Princeton Whistle Pigs, a minor league baseball squad that competed in the Appalachian League of Ball Clubs but stopped playing in 2023. For history enthusiasts, the town offers many attractions like the "Those Who Served War Museum" which houses artifacts from the Civil War to present-day wars. Dog lovers can check out the Princeton City Dog Park, also known as the town's "Bark Park," for a good time out with canine pets.

White Sulphur Springs

The southeast town of White Sulphur Springs owes its fame to a standout West Virginia getaway option: the Greenbrier, a historic luxury mountain resort. The town's early days offering spa-like services were possible thanks to local entrepreneurs using and promoting local natural hot springs. This natural feature eventually gave rise to the moniker "Queen of the Watering Places" to signify the town as a whole.

White Suplhur Spring's association with luxury goes deeper. Oakhurst Links, built in 1884, became America's first official golf club. The Greenbrier can lay claim to a hard-to-beat accolade among luxury destinations: during World War II, the town and its signature resort was chosen to host the entirety of the US Congress in case Washington, DC, needed to be evacuated. More recent draws turn the town's natural features into another pampering opportunity, like at the Pomona Salt Cave and Spa, where paying guests can soak their feet, get a massage, and even do a session of "cave yoga" in the name of self-care.

West Virginia's Vacation Charms Live in Towns Like These

As these destinations show, West Virginia's vacation destinations come for all types of interests, budgets, and personal styles. Rugged adventure awaits in places like Seneca Rocks near Elkins or the Appalachian Trail through Harpers Ferry. Fairmont offers delicious pepperoni rolls and mountain music to match. A more genteel vacation can take place while visiting Parkersburg's many stately homes, or the ultra-luxurious services available in the famously indulgent White Sulphur Springs. Whether your tastes run toward West Virginia beer or sparkling foreign wine, West Virginia's incredible vacation spots have long catered to every kind of pleasure-seeking traveler.